11 famous ships (and one lifeboat) that made Antarctic history

04/09/2025

From the first recorded crossing of the Antarctic Circle to a modern icebreaker representing a new era of Antarctic exploration, we take a look at the ships that made Antarctic history.

The icy waters of the Antarctic have long drawn explorers, scientists and adventurers alike, each leaving their mark on this remote frontier. Behind every historic expedition is a vessel that braved treacherous seas, towering icebergs and freezing winds to push the boundaries of human knowledge. 

From pioneering whaling ships to legendary research icebreakers, these vessels have not only sailed into history but have helped shape our understanding of the frozen continent. Step aboard and discover the ships that made Antarctic history.

1. HMS Resolution

• Launched: 1770
• Antarctic explorer: James Cook
• Famous for: First (known) ship to cross the Antarctic Circle
• Fate: Unknown, last sighted 5 June 1783 (disputed)

HMS Resolution, commanded by Captain James Cook, was a British Royal Navy vessel famed for her role in Cook’s second voyage (1772–1775). Designed for endurance in harsh conditions, she was heavily reinforced and well-provisioned for long periods without resupply. Cook’s mission was to search for the elusive Terra Australis Incognita – the hypothetical southern continent. In January 1773, Resolution became the first ship in recorded history to cross the Antarctic Circle, a feat she would repeat twice more during the voyage, venturing farther south than any previous expedition.

Watercolour of the Resolution by William Hodges © State Library of New South Wales

Although Cook never sighted the Antarctic mainland, his repeated crossings of the Circle, reaching as far as 71°10′ S, proved that if a southern continent existed, it lay well within the polar ice and was unlikely to be habitable. These journeys dispelled centuries of geographic myth and mapped vast swathes of the Southern Ocean. The Resolution’s Antarctic achievements, combined with her extensive Pacific explorations, cemented her place as one of the most important ships in the history of exploration.

2. RV Belgica 

• Launched: 1884
• Antarctic explorer: Adrien de Gerlache
• Famous for: First expedition to overwinter in Antarctica
• Fate: Scuttled in Harstad, Norway, 1940

The Belgian research vessel Belgica, commanded by Adrien de Gerlache, set sail in 1897 on the first expedition specifically aimed at exploring the Antarctic region. The ship’s crew included notable figures such as Roald Amundsen and Frederick Cook. In February 1898, Belgica crossed the Antarctic Circle and entered the pack ice of the Bellingshausen Sea. Trapped by encroaching ice near 71°30′ S, she became the first ship to overwinter in Antarctic waters – an ordeal the crew had not planned for.

The Belgica stuck ice, 1898 (rederick Cook/Public Domain)

During their enforced stay, the crew endured months of darkness, extreme cold, and scurvy, but they also gathered valuable scientific data on the region’s climate, ice, and wildlife. When the ice finally released Belgica in March 1899, the expedition had contributed groundbreaking observations to Antarctic science. Her crossing of the Antarctic Circle and survival through an unplanned polar winter became legendary milestones in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

3. RRS Discovery 

• Launched: 1901
• Antarctic explorer: Robert Falcon Scott
• Famous for: The British National Antarctic Expedition (1901–04)
• Fate: In a custom-built dock in Dundee's visitor attraction, Discovery Point, Scotland

RRS Discovery holds a special place in Antarctic history as the flagship of Britain’s National Antarctic Expedition (1901–1904), led by Robert Falcon Scott. Purpose-built for polar service, she was a stout, wooden-hulled vessel designed to withstand heavy ice, yet nimble enough for exploration. With a crew that included the young Ernest Shackleton, Discovery crossed the Antarctic Circle in January 1902 and established winter quarters in McMurdo Sound. From there, Scott led ambitious sledge journeys into the uncharted interior, mapping unknown terrain and gathering a wealth of scientific data.

RRS Discovery (centre) trapped by the ice in McMurdo Sound, accompanied by Morning (l) and Terra Nova (Alexander Turnbull National Library/Public Domain)

Her voyage was a turning point in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, setting a new farthest south record at 82°17′ S and significantly expanding knowledge of the continent’s geography, biology, and climate. Though trapped in the ice for two years, the Discovery’s survival and eventual release became a testament to resilience in the polar environment. More than just a ship, she was a floating laboratory and a symbol of Britain’s renewed commitment to exploration, inspiring future Antarctic expeditions for decades to come.

RRS Discovery at Discovery Point, Dundee (Dundee Heritage Trust)

4. Nimrod 

• Launched: 1867
• Antarctic explorer: Sir Ernest Shackleton
• Famous for: The Nimrod Expedition (1907–09), setting farthest south record
• Fate: Grounded and broke up off Norfolk, England, 1919

The Nimrod became an icon of Antarctic history as the vessel for Ernest Shackleton’s British Antarctic Expedition (1907–1909). Originally a small sealing ship, she was far from ideal for polar service – cramped, slow, and lacking the power of purpose-built explorers. Yet under Shackleton’s leadership, the Nimrod crossed the Antarctic Circle in January 1908 and battled her way through heavy pack ice to reach McMurdo Sound. From this base, Shackleton led a small team towards the geographic South Pole, ultimately setting a new farthest south record for the time at 88°23′ S, just 97 nautical miles short of the Pole.

The Nimrod Expedition (1907-09) (Public Domain)

The expedition’s achievements went far beyond that record. The Nimrod’s crew made the first ascent of Mount Erebus, discovered the Beardmore Glacier and completed valuable geological and magnetic surveys. Despite her humble origins, the ship carried one of the most ambitious and scientifically productive Antarctic expeditions of the Heroic Age. Her story became a testament to determination, ingenuity and the ability to push the limits of exploration against the odds.

5. Pourquoi-Pas?

• Launched: 1908
• Antarctic explorer: Jean-Baptiste Charcot
• Famous for: Led French expeditions to Antarctica (1908–10), producing valuable maps and scientific observations
• Fate: Wrecked off Iceland, 1936

The French ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?) holds an extremely special place in our hearts as well as a celebrated place in Antarctic history thanks to the daring expeditions led by explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot in the early 20th century. 

One of the ship’s most enduring legacies is the exploration and naming of Port Lockroy, a natural harbour on Wiencke Island, which later became the site for Base A – Britain’s first permanent base on the continent and our flagship heritage site, home to our beloved Penguin Post Office. 

The Pourquoi-Pas? explored and named Port Lockroy (Public Domain)

Built specifically for polar research, the Pourquoi-Pas? was a sturdy vessel equipped for scientific discovery and navigating treacherous southern seas. On her voyages between 1908 and 1910, Charcot and his crew charted vast stretches of the Antarctic Peninsula, contributing detailed maps and valuable scientific observations to the world.

The Pourquoi-Pas?’s meticulous work helped lay the foundation for future Antarctic exploration and scientific study, blending adventure with a strong commitment to understanding the continent’s geography and environment. Her voyages remain a milestone in the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration, symbolising the spirit of curiosity and international cooperation.

6. Terra Nova 

• Launched: 1884
• Antarctic explorer: Robert Falcon Scott
• Famous for: Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition (1910–13), which reached the pole but tragically perished on the return journey
• Fate: Sank off the coast of Greenland, 1943

The Terra Nova is famously remembered as the ship that carried Robert Falcon Scott and his team on the British Antarctic Expedition of 1910–1913, also known as the Terra Nova Expedition. Originally a whaling and sealing vessel, she was refitted for polar exploration and played a crucial role in supporting Scott’s ambitious quest to be the first to reach the South Pole. The Terra Nova transported men, supplies and scientific equipment to Antarctica, braving dangerous ice-filled waters to establish the expedition’s base on Ross Island.

Terra Nova in 1911 (Herbert Ponting/Public Domain)

While the expedition is best known for its tragic race against Roald Amundsen—who reached the Pole first—the Terra Nova’s contribution went beyond that story. The ship also facilitated extensive scientific research, including geology, biology, and meteorology, and supported multiple sledging journeys into the Antarctic interior. The Terra Nova’s voyages embody both the heroism and hardships of the Heroic Age, marking her as one of the most iconic vessels in Antarctic exploration history.

Recently, a team of maritime archaeologists completed the first visual survey of the wreck of Terra Nova.

7. Fram

• Launched: 1892
• Antarctic explorer: Roald Amundsen
• Famous for: Amundsen's South Pole expedition (1910–12) – the first to reach the Geographic South Pole
• Fate: Preserved at the Fram Museum in Oslo, Norway

The Fram is one of the most legendary ships in polar exploration history, renowned for her role in Norwegian expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Designed by famed explorer Fridtjof Nansen and built to withstand the crushing pressure of polar ice, the Fram was virtually unsinkable and uniquely suited for venturing deep into frozen seas. In 1910, under the command of Roald Amundsen, the Fram carried the Norwegian South Pole Expedition to Antarctica, where Amundsen famously became the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911.

The Fram is one of the most famous ships in polar history (Steve Nicklas/Public Domain)

The Fram’s Antarctic voyage marked a turning point in exploration history, combining innovative ship design with precise navigation and careful planning. Unlike many earlier expeditions, Amundsen’s journey was remarkably efficient and successful, thanks in large part to the Fram’s ability to safely transport men and supplies through perilous ice conditions. The ship’s legacy endures as a symbol of Norwegian ingenuity and the triumph of human determination in the face of the harshest environment on Earth.

8. SY Aurora 

• Launched: 1876
• Antarctic explorers: Douglas Mawson & AE Smith
• Famous for: Supporting the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–14) and the Ross Sea party of Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–17)
• Fate: Missing – possibly sunk by a German World War I mine, 1918

The SY Aurora earned her place in Antarctic history as the ship of Sir Douglas Mawson’s Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911–1914) and later as the lifeline of Shackleton’s ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Originally a Scottish whaling ship, she was refitted for polar work and proved her strength in the unforgiving Southern Ocean. Under Mawson’s command, the Aurora transported men and supplies to Commonwealth Bay, one of the windiest places on Earth, where the expedition established its main base. From there, Mawson’s team carried out groundbreaking scientific research, mapping large sections of previously unknown coastline and collecting vital data on geology, biology, and meteorology.

SY Aurora anchored to floe-ice during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (State Library of New South Wales/Public Domain)

The Aurora returned to Antarctic waters in 1914 to support Shackleton’s expedition, where she played a central role in the tragic story of the Ross Sea Party. After laying supply depots across the Great Ice Barrier, the ship was torn from her moorings by a fierce storm and carried away by pack ice, leaving 10 men stranded ashore for nearly two years. Although battered, the Aurora returned in 1917 to rescue the survivors, cementing her reputation as both a vessel of remarkable endurance and a witness to the resilience and sacrifice of Antarctic explorers.

9. Endurance

• Launched: 1912
• Antarctic explorer: Sir Ernest Shackleton
• Famous for: The ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–17)
• Fate: Crushed by ice in the Weddell Sea; wreck found in 2022; now in the care of UKAHT

Unsurprisingly, the Endurance is our favourite ship of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration and arguably the era’s most famous. Immortalised by Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914–1917), the Endurance was built for polar conditions. 

She sailed into the Weddell Sea to carry Shackleton’s team across the continent. Instead, the Endurance became trapped in the sea ice in January 1915 and was slowly crushed, forcing the crew to abandon ship. What followed was one of the greatest survival stories in exploration history: Shackleton’s men endured months on the ice, an open-boat journey across the Southern Ocean, and a desperate rescue mission – remarkably, with no lives lost.

For over a century, the wreck of the Endurance lay hidden beneath the ice until its stunning rediscovery in March 2022, preserved in remarkable condition on the seabed of the Weddell Sea. Today, the ship is protected and cared for under the guardianship of us – the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust – and we work to preserve this extraordinary symbol of courage and resilience for future generations. 

The Endurance is more than just a shipwreck – it is a powerful reminder of human resilience and the enduring allure of Antarctic exploration.

Learn more about the Endurance:

• Endurance is found
• Endurance22 Mission
• Protecting Endurance: our conservation plan for Shackleton’s iconic ship
• Endurance microsite
• Endurance film review: a tale of two expeditions

10. James Caird 

• Launched: 1912
• Antarctic explorer: Sir Ernest Shackleton
• Famous for: Used in the 800-mile open-boat voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia during the Endurance expedition
• Fate: Displayed at Dulwich College

The James Caird was not a mighty expedition ship but a modest 6.9m (22.5ft) lifeboat – yet it made Antarctic history by carrying out one of the greatest small-boat voyages ever attempted. After the loss of the Endurance in 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew were stranded on the desolate Elephant Island. With no hope of rescue, Shackleton chose five men and set out in the James Caird on an audacious journey across 1,288km (800mi) of the world’s roughest seas to reach South Georgia. Battling towering waves, freezing spray, and relentless gales, the tiny boat somehow survived the 16-day ordeal, delivering Shackleton and his men to land.

Launching the James Caird from Elephant Island, 1916 (Public Domain)

From there, Shackleton trekked across the mountains of South Georgia to bring help, eventually rescuing every one of his stranded crew. The voyage of the James Caird became a defining moment of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, a story of leadership, courage, and sheer human determination. Today, the original boat is preserved at Dulwich College in London, standing as a powerful symbol of survival against impossible odds.

11. RV Hero

• Launched: 1968
• Antarctic explorer: American researchers
• Famous for: Research vessel used by the US Antarctic Program (1968-84)
• Fate: Partially sank at Bay Center, WA, USA, 2017; deconstructed, 2022

The RV Hero may not belong to the Heroic Age, but it made Antarctic history in a different era – serving as a vital link between the USA and its Antarctic research stations during the second half of the 20th century. Launched in 1968, the wooden-hulled research vessel was specifically designed to navigate the icy, shallow waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. For nearly three decades, the Hero ferried scientists, supplies, and equipment to Palmer Station, playing a central role in supporting year-round research on Antarctica’s marine ecosystems, climate and wildlife.

The RV Hero in at Paradise Bay Antarctica (Rob Dale/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Though modest in size compared to earlier exploration ships, the Hero became a workhorse of modern Antarctic science. She enabled pioneering studies of penguin populations, seal ecology and krill dynamics – research that laid the foundation for today’s understanding of the Southern Ocean’s fragile ecosystems. Retired in 1984, the RV Hero is remembered not for daring feats of exploration but for her steadfast service to science, symbolising the transition from heroic adventure to systematic, long-term research in Antarctica.

12. RRS Sir David Attenborough

• Launched: 2018
• Antarctic explorer: British researchers
• Famous for: the UK’s state-of-the-art polar research ship
• Fate: In operation

The RRS Sir David Attenborough is one of the most modern and technologically advanced ships to make Antarctic history. Launched in 2018, she was purpose-built as a polar research vessel, designed to navigate the thick sea ice of the Southern Ocean while supporting cutting-edge science and logistics. Named after the legendary naturalist (although the public wanted another name), the ship carries scientists, supplies, and equipment to remote Antarctic research stations, helping monitor climate change, marine ecosystems, and glacial movements.

RRS Sir David Attenborough in the Antarctic winter (BAS/Lewis Bumstead)

In 2025, the RSS Sir David Attenborough made history when it completed a first-of-its-kind science cruise, conducting research in the polar winter. Typically, winter in Antarctica is the preserve of overwinterers at research stations. During the voyage, it also stopped off at Port Lockroy.

The SDA, as it’s known, represents a new era of Antarctic exploration – one driven by science, environmental monitoring and international collaboration. With her advanced icebreaking capabilities, laboratory facilities and sustainable design, she continues to shape how humanity studies and protects the frozen continent.